Noxolo made her community proud

2019-08-22 06:00

Unathi Obose

Banyana Banyana player Noxolo Cesane wearing her 2019 Cosafa medal. She is with her granny Nompumelelo Mayekiso and her twin sister Sinoxolo Cesane. Both Noxolo and Sinoxolo play for the University of the Western Cape FC.

The Cesane family in Gugulethu is praising their daughter, Noxolo, for her hard work. Last month, the 18-year-old was selected to play for Banyana Banyana for the first time during the recently completed Cosafa Women’s Championship.

The competion was played in Port Elizabeth from Wednesday 31 July until Sunday 11 August, with Banyana crowned winners after beating Zambia 1-0, to claim a third Cosafa trophy in a row.

Since her arrival on Monday 12 August her family says they have been bombarded with congratulatory calls.

Noxolo’s grandmother, Nompumelelo Mayekiso, said she had mixed feelings when she saw her come into the field in the second half of their match against Comoros.

“I was happy and at the same time, I felt like crying. I didn’t expect to see her in the first game. I taught maybe they will introduce her in the second or third game,” said Mayekiso.

She added that Cesane’s appearance in the squad gave them recognition and status in the community.

“Last week Monday the whole community went to the Cape Town Airport to welcome Noxolo. I don’t know who mobilised the people to go to the airport.

“It was a convoy from the airport and we were going around Gugulethu greeting people,” she said.

The University of Western Cape FC mid-field player played for City Lads and City Roses before joining UWC earlier this year.

Her twin sister Sinoxolo said she is proud of her.

“We played together in the u.17, u.19 and u.20 teams. It was the first time that I was left behind when she was selected for the Banyana squad. But I’m happy for her and hoping that my turn will come,” she said.

Sinoxolo echoed her grandmother’s sentiment that she was emotional when she saw her twin sister coming onto the field.

“When I saw her warming up I screamed. Everyone in the house screamed,” she said.

Noxolo’s first match was against Comoros. They hammered it 17-0. “I started the second game against Malawi. We beat them 3-1 and I scored,” she said.

Their last game in the group stages was against Madagascar. They also beat them by three goals to nil.

They played Zimbabwe in the semi-finals before coming up against Zambia in the final. They beat Zimbabwe 3-1.

The Fezeka High School learner added that she wanted to cement her place in the Banyana squad. “In the final I played the full 90 minutes,” she said.

She hailed Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, for giving her an opportunity to showcase her talent. “When I played the first game as a sub against Comoros the coach told me to be calm and play my normal game. She told me I must not be nervous,” said Noxolo.